Hundreds of people in Indonesia have fled their homes to escape
fast-moving mudflows streaming down the slopes of the country's most
volatile volcano.

Slamet Sugiono, of the National Disaster Management Agency, says those affected live along the
banks of the Code River, which flows from Mount Merapi into the heart of
Yogyakarta, a bustling city 20 miles (30 kilometres) away.

He says hours of incessant rains on Monday triggered the flows, which
raced down the slopes at speeds of up to 60 mph (100 kph) and inundated
homes in knee-high black sludge.

Evacuation: After mudflows streamed down Mount Merapi in Indonesia on Monday, residents of nearby villages evacuated

Nasa view: The power of the volcano, which has killed at least 341 people since it began erupting on October 26, is shown in this satellite image

Mr Sugiono said today that some 400 people had fled.

At least 341 people have been killed in a series of eruptions at
Merapi since October 26.

The notoriously unpredictable mountain unleashed its most powerful eruption in a century earlier this month, killing nearly 100 people.

Explosive: Mount Merapi, pictured earlier this month, is shown to spew out ash and hot lava

On the way out: Hours of incessant rains triggered the mudflows, which raced down the slopes at speeds of up to 60 mph (100 kph) and inundated homes in knee-high black sludge

The volcano sent out hot clouds of gas, rocks and debris avalanching down its slopes at highway speeds, smothering entire villages and leaving a trail of charred corpses in its path.

Mount Merapi, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has erupted many times in the last century, killing more than 1,400.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 235 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes because it sits along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' a horseshoe-shaped string of faults that lines the Pacific Ocean.

Violent: This DigitalGlobe satellite image highlights the power of the volcano, which has been causing problems for locals for almost a month now

Range: Those affected by the mudslides live along the banks of the Code River, which flows from Mount Merapi into the heart of Yogyakarta, a bustling city 20 miles (30 kilometres) away